Crapemyrtle plant named &#39;JM1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM1’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM1’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM1’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM3’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.: 16/350,180

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM4’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.: 16/350,179

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM5’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.: 16/350,175

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM1’ and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM1’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branching Crapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flower colors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the summer of 2015 of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez White’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in May, 2016 as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss. since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of the new Crapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JM1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JM1’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit.

4. Dark green-colored leaves.

5. Numerous inflorescences with dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers.

6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Natchez White’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Natchez White’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more freely branching than plants of ‘Natchez White’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Natchez White’ have light green-colored leaves.

3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Natchez White’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Ebony Flame’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of Ebony Flame in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are larger and more vigorous than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ have dark purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia x ‘JM3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16,350,180. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM3’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller than and more outwardly spreading than plants of ‘JM3’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘JM3’ have dark greyed purple-colored leaves.

3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘JM3’ have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia x ‘JM4’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,179. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM4’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are shorter than and not as vigorous as plants of ‘JM4’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark green-colored fully developed leaves whereas plants of ‘JM4’ have dark greyed purple-colored fully developed leaves.

3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘JM4’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can also be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia x ‘JM5’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM5’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘JM5’ have dark greyed purple-colored leaves.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘JM5’ have light red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,342. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Whit IV’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous and sturdier than plants of ‘Whit IV’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more freely branching than plants of ‘Whit IV’.

3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have larger dark green-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ have smaller medium green-colored leaves.

4. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ have lighter red-colored flowers.

5. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more resistant to pathogens than plants of ‘Whit IV’.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit II’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,296. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Whit II’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous and sturdier than plants of ‘Whit II’.

2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more freely branching than plants of ‘Whit II’.

3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark red to dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Whit II’ have lighter red-colored flowers with white-colored spots.

4. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more resistant to pathogens than plants of ‘Whit II’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JM1’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JM1’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 7-gallon containers in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. during the summer in outdoor nurseries and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Crapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 33° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were three years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez             White’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one             month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month for softwood cuttings and about two months for             hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to             somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and             sturdy growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about six basal             branches developing per plant each with numerous secondary             and tertiary lateral branches.         -   Plant height.—About 215 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 106 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 210 cm.         -   Diameter, at the base.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 35° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; woody with age; matte.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 177A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse to cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between 147A and             139A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to between 146A and 147B; midvein, close to             144C to 144D and lateral venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A to             146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled             flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering             habit with usually about 28 to 32 flowers per inflorescence             and numerous inflorescences developing during the flowering             season; flowers face upright and outwardly; flowers not             persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle             flower during the summer and into the autumn in Fort Worth,             Tex.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Obovate to spherical. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 187A to 187B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate; ruffled.             Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire, undulate; ruffled. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             soft; delicate; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to between 53A and 59B. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to between 53A and 59B; color             becoming closer to 59A to 59B with development. Stalk: Close             to between 53A and 59B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 187D. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 187A to 187B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° from stem             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 144A tinged with close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 24. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to 58D. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen: None.             Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 60A.             Stigma appearance: Spherical. Stigma color: Close to 144A.             Ovary: Close to 11A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be     cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been     observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and     powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new     Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM1’ as illustrated and described. 